In 1958 VF-33 transitioned to the supersonic Grumman F11F-1 Tiger and was renamed "Astronauts."

cspg

I did see that on Wikipedia but the question remains: why (astronauts)?

onesmallstep

There is no connection to NASA for that squadron name, other than perhaps coming right after NASA being formed (and before the Mercury 7 being chosen in 1959), the pilots chose that particular name. It was fitting, because the Tiger was the Navy's first supersonic carrier aircraft. There was an F11F-1 painted in VF-33 colors bearing the name 'Astronauts' on display for many years on the flight deck of the USS Intrepid museum (where VF-33 flew off for several years), now berthed in New York's Hudson River. It now has been repainted in Blue Angels markings.

Sadly, the Tiger's frontline career lasted a short four(!) years. Ironically, it served longer with the Blue Angels, eleven years (I saw them at an airshow in 1968, their last year with the jet). There IS an astronaut connection to VF-33, though, post-F11F-1s: Future MOL and NASA astronaut Dick Truly's first assignment was flying F-8 Crusaders off the Intrepid, and later the Enterprise, as part of the squadron, now back to its old name of 'Tarsiers.' Many of his mementos from his Navy and NASA days are now in the collection of the Intrepid.

cspg

Thanks for the info. The Intrepid was the only connection I could make with astronauts, only if you look into retrospect. I was wondering if any pilots (or candidates) applying for MOL, MISS, X-15 or Mercury actually flew on this plane and/or the Intrepid.

onesmallstep

The only (future) astronaut I could find that flew this type of plane was Alan Shepard, while assigned to Patuxent River NAS in Maryland.